Watching this in Newport, in the Jane Picken’s theatre approximately a quarter mile from the real Viking Hotel was very silly to me and the rest of the audience who audibly laughed when they showed the “Viking Hotel” (the real hotel looks absolutely nothing like that today)

But anyways! This movie scratches so many places in my brain — Newport folk festival! 60’s fashion! the discussion of what folk music is! protest music! Niche theatre actors! Riverside church! Etc! —…

I thought the portrayal of Wilkerson’s personal life was so incredibly beautiful and moving but I haven’t yet read Caste so I’m worried about how well it captures Wilkerson’s arguments. However, I do think that the film works well as an entry point for people who would not pick up the book to begin with, people like my mom who love movies but may not reach for a 500-page nonfiction book on social hierarchies unprompted. The film’s explanation of the…